Bahrain's King Hamad said there was no reason to delay the resumption of diplomatic relations between the kingdom and Iran.
Bahrain cut ties with Iran in 2016 after attacks on Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad, following the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr Al Nimr by Riyadh.
“We had problems with Iran, but now there are no problems at all,” King Hamad said on Thursday in Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“There is no reason to postpone the normalisation of relations with Iran. We are trying to have normal diplomatic, commercial and cultural relations between us and them.”
King Hamad is to visit China on Friday for talks with President Xi Jinping.
The Bahraini monarch this month led the 33rd Arab League summit, where member states called for Manama to host an international peace conference to revive the two-state solution between Palestine and Israel.
“There is complete agreement among the Arab countries on the necessity of holding a peace conference to solve the problem of the Middle East,” King Hamad was quoted as saying by the Russian Interfax news agency. “Russia is the first country that we asked to support its holding.”
Saudi Arabia and Iran announced last March that the countries had restored ties. Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it welcomed the rapprochement, which was brokered by China.
“This agreement would constitute a positive step on the road to resolving differences and ending all regional conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic means,” the ministry said at the time.
The following day, Ahmed Al Musallam, chairman of Bahrain's Council of Representatives, received his Iranian counterpart, Mojtaba Rezakha, in Manama for an Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting.
Last May, an Iranian delegation led by Ali Alizadeh, a member of the parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, visited Manama as part of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly meetings.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
